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The 1808 Sale of the Van Damme Numismatic Library

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:75.00 USD
The 1808 Sale of the Van Damme Numismatic Library
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Westreenen van Tiellandt, Baron W.H.J. van. CATALOGUE DE LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE ET DU CABINET DE MÉDAILLES, ANTIQUES ET MODERNES, AINSI QUE DE QUELQUES PIERRES GRAVÉES, ANTIQUITÉS, &c. DÉLAISSÉS PAR M. PIERRE VAN DAMME. The Hague, March 21, 1808 and following. 12mo, faux vellum-covered boards with lettered spine. Two-sided photocopy of lots 327-1400, constituting Van Damme’s numismatic library. 5, (2), 54-230, (4) pages. Fine. One of the most important early sales of numismatic literature. Van Damme’s library on numismatics was extensive, and the catalogue is masterly, with detailed descriptions making it a working bibliography for early numismatic publications. Van Damme (1727-1806) was a highly esteemed Amsterdam bookseller. The auction was held by J. Koning, with booksellers Thierry-Mensing and P. Van Daalen Wetters participating. The catalogue was written by Baron W.H.J. van Westreenen van Tiellandt (1783-1848), who penned a wonderful introduction to the sale, in which he recalls meeting Van Damme when not yet 16, and cultivating a friendship that lasted the rest of Van Damme’s life. While a bound photocopy, originals are quite rare. Ex George F. Kolbe library, with his bookplate; later in the library of David Fanning.